Subra: It was Dr Chua who said 2006
On behalf of the Coalition Against Health Care Privatisation, I wish to categorically state that at no time did we say that the proposed National Health Financing Scheme (NHFS) would be introduced in 2006 as claimed by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek (The Star, 14 December 2005). In fact, according to newspaper reports on 26 April 2005, it was Dr Chua who said that NHFS will come into force in 2006 and eight million Malaysians will have to pay for their medical treatment.In the Health Financing Forum that was co-organised by our Coalition on 11 December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, we actually put forward a People’s Proposal for health financing reform which encompassed the following six key features:
- Need for consultation and full disclosure without being rushed by artificially set deadlines.
- Need for equitable access to health care for all Malaysian residents.
- A National Health Fund (NHF), which will be funded by federal budget, taxes on alcohol and cigarettes and a small portion of Petronas profits.
- A National Health Authority (NHA) created as a trust by Parliament will manage the NHF. The NHA will be representative of a wide cross section of Malaysians and be fully accountable to all Malaysians.
- Reform of public sector health system first before integrating with private sector health care providers.
- A comprehensive essential health package which must minimally consists of all the treatment options currently available in our government clinics and hospitals.
We concur fully wilth Tan Sri Dr Abdul Khalid Sahan. We feel that health care is a basic human right just like education and it is the responsibility of the government to provide equitable and efficient health care to all Malaysians regardless of income. In that way, it will enhance social solidarity and contribute to the long-term social and economic development of Malaysia.
Dr Subramaniam Pillay
Chairperson, Coalition Against Health Care Privatisation
Executive Committee Member, Aliran
